893.00/5710: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 6—1:55 p.m.]
434. 1. Chinese Government troops yesterday compelled Manchu ex-Emperor and entourage to vacate Forbidden City and they removed to Prince Chun’s palace, where now residing. Today, by orders of the metropolitan police, as I am informed, the streets are beflagged to celebrate the initiation of “a genuine republic.”
2. British, Netherlands and Japanese Ministers called on Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday afternoon in relation to subject of ex-Emperor’s safety, Sir Ronald Macleay having called upon Netherlands Minister and expressed opinion that King George would be solicitous for personal safety of the youth who was formerly Emperor of China and with whose family the British Royal Family had been on terms of friendship; Japanese Minister believes that his own sovereign animated by similar sentiments. At this interview British Minister informed Dr. Wang that if harm should befall ex-Emperor the credit reposed in the Chinese Government by foreign powers would be seriously impaired and referred to “terms of favorable treatment” to be given ex-Emperor and Imperial House as embodied in agreement between Chinese Government and ex-Emperor in 1912. See Legation’s despatch number 427, February 13, 1912.19 Yoshizawa made substantially same remarks, Netherlands Minister saying very little.
3. Minister for Foreign Affairs replied that agreement had been already revised by Yuan Shih-kai in 1916; that it was now intended to effect another revision in consultation with the ex-Emperor. Dr. Wang stated most positively that the Government would take precautions that no harm should befall ex-Emperor either in respect of his own person or private property.
4. Belief by credible persons that above action Bolshevik inspired, working through Kuomintang for purpose finally eliminating monarchical restoration and further inciting anti-imperialist feeling and [Page 391] so anti-foreign feeling. I am reliably informed that C. T. Wang; has seen Karakhan20 daily for past week or two. …
5. Repeated to Tokyo.
- Foreign Relations, 1912, p. 65; the enclosure giving the terms agreed upon with respect to the treatment of the Imperial Family is not printed.↩
- Soviet Ambassador in China.↩